The Fiji Water Flying Fijians squad, with its depth of players, is focused on their upcoming preparation against the All Blacks at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, United States, next Saturday, July 20.
Speaking to SUNsports, head coach Mick Byrne confirmed that the players are free of any major injuries in camp.
“All the players trained yesterday (Monday) with just a few minor niggles, which are to be expected after a physical game against Georgia last week,” Byrne said.
“Caleb Muntz is progressing well but hasn’t joined training yet. We expect him to participate later in the week.”
Byrne hopes to retain the current squad for the Pacific Nations Cup in August.
“The growth in the Flying Fijians over the last couple of years, with the inclusion of the Fijian Drua team, has created a more professional depth than what was originally there,” he said.
“The depth of the squad has improved to the point where we can focus on our own development.”
“We need to prepare better and ensure our players have the support they need as we face some well-resourced teams.”
Byrne emphasized the importance of a solid defense against the All Blacks.
“We’ll need to limit their ball usage, as they’ll challenge us with the speed of their game,” he said.
“We’ll prepare accordingly over the next two weeks.”
The match is part of New Zealand Rugby’s strategy to grow the All Blacks brand on American soil and raise the sport’s profile in the US. The US will host the 2031 and 2033 iterations of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups.
While these tournaments might seem distant, New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson told Forbes last month that the decision to host back-to-back World Cups in the US “has provided a real north star for the sport.”